Here’s everything you need to know about exploring this Venice of the North—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.

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Best time to visit Amsterdam

Spring: Wisteria explodes into bloom and nearby tulip fields burst into colors visible from space. Don’t miss the 24-hour celebration of King’s Day. The fun begins on April 26, the night before King Willem-Alexander’s birthday, with evening street parties in every neighborhood. On the 27th, families sell trinkets and toys in a city-wide flea market before carousing in boats and bars with hundreds of thousands of visitors in orange outfits and inflatable crowns. 

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When I moved to Amsterdam in 2018, I enrolled in Dutch classes and began mentally translating every word of Dutch I saw, from street signs to menus to the aisles at grocery stores. The language sometimes baffled me. I was particularly perplexed when I started noticing the word “kapsalon” on the menu boards of shawarma shops around town. I was sure kapsalon meant hair salon. Was this a looming snack stand–barbershop collaboration trend?

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The Dutch certainly know what they are doing when it comes to creating and displaying art. Amsterdam is a veritable treasure trove of artistic pleasure, and the city’s museums and galleries are teeming with historic pieces and future classics. Whether you’re looking for the best of the best from the Dutch Masters or your new favourite painter, you’re going to find it in Amsterdam.

Undoubtedly one of the great European destinations, Amsterdam’s roster of art museums and galleries may well be its strongest suit. Sure, the city has a nightlife that attracts revellers from all over the world, it has charming cafes and curious coffeeshops, innovative restaurants and a famous central district, but the cream of the crop? That’ll be these spots. Check out our pick of the best art museums and galleries in Amsterdam right now.

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In many ways, modern travel is at its most vibrant in the cafe of a city, and Amsterdam is no different. Everyday life overflows here, as old friends catch up while young creatives furiously work away in the corner, with plenty of fantastic coffee and cakes to be enjoyed along the way. To be clear, if you want a coffee or a light meal in Amsterdam, then a coffeeshop is not the place to stop. Despite the name, those joints serve cannabis (yes, pun intended); you’re after a koffiehuis (or cafe).

Amsterdam’s centuries-old cafe and restaurant culture deserves celebrating, and what better way to pay homage than by nipping in for a hot cup of coffee and a delightfully massive cake? These are the best cafes in Amsterdam. Expect plenty of gorgeous canalside views, you lucky thing.

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A night out in Amsterdam is one of the world’s great travel experiences. Not convinced? Visitors to this famous city have been stopping for a drink or three since the 1600s when sailors and traders alike exchanged tales over tipples before going their separate ways. The Dutch capital’s sightseeing options are among the best on the continent, but the best bars in Amsterdam keep the fun going late into the night.

Amsterdam’s eclectic soul shines brightest in its bars, where the traditional taverns of yesteryear sidle up to sleek lounges, hyper-stylish cocktail bars and craft breweries that continue this city’s proud history of revolution and innovation. You don’t need too much of a reason to stop for a drink in Amsterdam, and these bars should be high on your must-see list.

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It was a delicious task to collaborate on this dining guide for Time Out.

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Read the full list of the world’s 25 best rooftop bars at Time Out.

From fine dining to simple burgers, Amsterdam diners are spoiled for choice. No matter what you crave, you’ll find a memorable meal at any of these top spots.

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In the buzzing borough of Amsterdam-Noord, shipyards have become cultural playgrounds and wide-open spaces beckon young families, artists, brewers and entrepreneurs. Hop on the free ferry from Centraal Station, in the opposite direction to most international visitors, to reach NDSM Wharf: the centre of Amsterdam's street art scene and home to Europe's largest monthly flea market at IJ-Hallen (these days with increased stall spacing and one-way route markers).

On this side of the River IJ, Noord's young creatives have built a flourishing community of multi-concept businesses, like the cinema-slash-waterfront restaurant at FC Hyena (now with added drive-in theatre), SkateCafe – where you can take a break from the half-pipe for a meal and a glass of natural wine – and the urban beach at Pllek, with its airy organic restaurant built from old shipping containers.

The angular Eye Filmmuseum, Noord's most iconic modern building, lies just a short bike ride from traditional villages lined with gabled wooden homes. Then, for a dose of adrenalin (plus an awesome view of the entire neighbourhood and the rest of Amsterdam beyond), brave Europe's highest swing, perched atop A'DAM Tower.—Christina Newberry

Amsterdam is a compact capital city that's perfect for exploring on foot. At its centre, the concentric circles of the 17th-century canal ring ensure you never walk in a straight line for long, and there's something to discover around almost every bend…

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